Become a Volunteer
Special Olympics Palm Beach County (SOPBC) aspires to provide the best and safest experiences for its athletes and volunteers. By registering all volunteers, SOPBC is better able to ensure that athletes and volunteers participate in a safe environment. Please contact our Games Director/Volunteer Coordinator Dan Fawcett at 561-966-7017 or email: sopbc@hotmail.com
Get Involved!!!
Everyone can contribute to Special Olympics Palm Beach County, regardless of age, background or experience. No matter how much or how little time you have to give, when you volunteer, you will be making a difference in the lives of our athletes and this movement. But more importantly, you'll find that you will get more out of your volunteer experience than you put in - it is something that has to be experienced to be believed.
Because the array of programs, services and opportunities that we offer are so vast, we're sure you'll find something to suit your interests and availability! So let's help you get started...
There are two basic kinds of Special Olympics volunteers. A Volunteer Registration form is required of each type of volunteer and both Class A and B volunteers must be able to show a valid photo ID at the time of registration.
CLASS B:
The first is a Class B or "day-of" volunteer who volunteers just on the day of events and competitions and has no sustained interaction with our athletes. These are what we call "walk-on" volunteers, meaning no prior experience or greater involvement with Special Olympics is required, and they are essential to Special Olympics Florida being able to host and run competitions.
Class B volunteers ages 15 and younger are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or adult volunteer.
When volunteering at a local or area competition in your home town, the Class B form is available either prior to the competition or on-site the day of the games.
CLASS "B" VOLUNTEER FORM
CLASS A:
The second type of volunteer is a Class A volunteer. Class A volunteers are typically coaches and/or chaperones; people who have sustained interaction with our athletes and have made a more prolongued commitment to the program (e.g., are a coach and therefore have committed 2-3 months a year to volunteering).
IMPORTANT:
Do not apply to be a Class A Volunteer until you first speak with Dan Fawcett, Games Director/Volunteer Coordinator to see what you are interested in doing in order to determine if you should be a Class A or Class B volunteer. This will save you and the local program time and paperwork.
Once you've spoken with the Volunteer Coordinator and you know that Class A status is appropriate for your level of interest, start the process now!
Protective Behaviors Training
Special Olympics Inc. developed the Protective Behaviors Training as a tool to assist with protecting Special Olympics athletes from abuse.
All Class A volunteers 16 years of age and older must complete Protective Behaviors Training. If you you do not have the means to take the test online,contact Dan Fawcett, Games Director/Volunteer Coordinator and he can provide you with the necessary materials and instruction.
While the Protective Behaviors training is only requisite for Class A Volunteers and staff (16 years of age and older), for the safety and health of our athletes and everyone involved with Special Olympics Palm Beach County, we encourage anyone interested in taking the training to do so: families, athletes, day-of volunteers, etc. It requires the assistance of everyone involved in our organization to help keep our athletes safe from abuse. Special Olympics Palm Beach County will keep a record of everyone who takes the training.